How It Happened: No. 11 Tennessee 24, No. 7 Alabama 17

Nico Iamaleava threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Chris Brazzell with 5:52 left and No. 11 Tennessee rallied to beat No. 7 Alabama 24-17 Saturday at Neyland Stadium. The Vols trailed 7-0 at halftime but got two rushing touchdowns from Dylan Sampson in the second half and a Max Gilbert field goal to go with Iamaleava’s go-ahead touchdown pass.

Here’s how it happened, as it happened:

First Quarter 

Tennessee’s offensive struggles continued in the first quarter, starting with a Dylan Sampson fumble lost on the first possession. The Vols drove 43 yards after forcing Alabama to punt on the opening series of the game, but Sampson was stripped at the Alabama 38-yard line and the Crimson Tide recovered.

Nico Iamaleava missed two open receivers down the field later in the quarter and Tennessee’s receivers had two drops.

The defense continued to keep the Vols in it, thanks to a Jermod McCoy interception in the end zone that the Tennessee corner returned to the Alabama 46. The ensuing drive went just 11 yards before Max Gilbert missed wide right on a 53-yard field goal attempt.

Second Quarter

Alabama 7, Tennessee 0 (13:01): Jalen Milroe threw a 5-yard touchdown to Ryan Williams on a jump ball to put Alabama up 7-0 early in the second quarter. The drive went 64 yards in eight plays, taking 3:50 off the clock. 

Nico Iamaleava briefly left the game early in the second quarter after being sacked at midfield. Fifth-year senior backup quarterback Gaston Moore replaced him, throwing an interception on his only play on a deep target to Bru McCoy.

Iamaleava went to the injury tent on the Tennessee sideline after leaving the game. ABC reported it was a hip injury, but Iamaleava told trainers he was OK and returned to the game on the following possession. He drove the Vols 61 yards before being intercepted after being hit while throwing.

Halftime

Tennessee was shut out in the first half for a third straight game, finishing with 143 total yards (44 rushing, 99 passing) with three turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble). Iamaleava finished the half 7-for-14 for 99 yards and an interception. Moore was also intercepted on his only play.

Sampson rushed eight times for 35 yards with a long of 20 and the Vols rushed 14 times as a team for 44 yards. McCoy led in receiving with three catches on four targets for 62 yards. 

Tennessee’s Max Gilbert was 0-for-2 on field goals, missing from 53 yards in the first quarter and 50 in the second quarter.

The defense more than did its job, holding Alabama to 174 total yards (142 passing, 31 rushing), forcing four punts and intercepting a pass in the end zone. Three of the four punts were three-and-outs.

Milroe was 15-for-28 for 142 yards with a touchdown and the pick in the first half. He ran 10 times for 16 yards to lead the Crimson Tide on the ground, with Alabama rushing 19 times for just 18 yards. Williams had six catches on 12 targets for 56 yards and the game’s only touchdown before halftime. 

Third Quarter

Alabama 7, Tennessee 7 (6:32): The third quarter started with two punts before Tennessee took off a 92-yard touchdown drive. Sampson ran 36 yards to get the Vols past midfield and Iamaleava ran 27 yards after breaking through an attempted sack. Sampson scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to tie the game.

Alabama 10, Tennessee 7 (3:16): Alabama answered Tennessee’s touchdown drive with a field goal, going 58 yards in 10 plays before kicking it from 35 yards out. The drive stalled at the Tennessee 14-yard line, with the Vols making a tackle in the backfield for a loss of three yards followed by two incomplete passes. 

Tennessee 14, Alabama 10 (1:00): Iamaleava threw a 55-yard pass to Dont’e Thornton on a go route on the Tennessee sideline on third-and-6 and Sampson scored from three yards out on the next play to give Tennessee its first lead of the game. 

Fourth Quarter

Alabama 17, Tennessee 14 (13:56): The scoring didn’t stop after Alabama got the ball back. The Crimson Tide went 75 yards in just six plays, taking only 2:04 off the clock, to retake the lead. Alabama completed a 28-yard pass to set up first-and-goal at the seven, then ran it in on the following play to get back in front.

Tennessee 21, Alabama 17 (5:52): Iamaleava threw a 16-yard touchdown to Chris Brazzell in the corner of the end zone on third-and-5 with 5:52 to play, putting Tennessee back up ahead. It was the fifth lead change of the second half.

Tennessee 24, Alabama 17 (1:30): Max Gilbert kicked a 41-yard field goal with 1:30 left and Will Brooks intercepted Alabama on first down on the ensuing possession to end the game.